Axle box



" Aug. 10-, 1926,

- 1,595,592 H. s. VINCENT AXLE BOX Filed July '7. 1924 A TTORNEY$ Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

HARRY S. VINCENT, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FRANKLIN RAIL WAY SUPPLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AXLE BOX.

Application filed July 7,

My invention relates to axle boxes, and is particularly concerned with their lubrication. It is especially adapted to journal boxes suitable for the drive wheels of locomotives. I aim to provide a simple, durable, and convenient type of device; to minimize the trouble and labor of putting the lubricator in place and removing it; to provide for a maximum thickness of grease cake (in the case of grease lubrication) and to permit the lubricator and all its parts to be easily removed from the open inner end of the box when the same'is in its normal position. How these and other objects and advantages can be realized through my invention will appear from my description hereinafter of a selected and preferred embodiment.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a driving box and its lubricating provisions, as it appears from its inner side (i. e., that toward the other box of the same axle) ,-part of the axle being shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 shows a mid-section through some of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one half of a spreader shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in section as indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 2,all other parts being omitted.

' My invention may be applied in connection with the ordinary type of inverted U- shaped driving box. As shown in the drawings, there is mounted between the sides or legs 5 of such box a spreader 6, which may be sufficiently stout to resist the tendency of the driving box sides to squeeze together on the lubricator 7. In the present instance, the spreader 6 comprises a bottom 8 with upstanding flanges at its edges forming sides 9, and also an end wall 10 whose upper edge is curved to conform rather closely (but not tightly) to the axle 11. This end wall 10 is located at the end of the driving box adjacent the drive wheel hub (not shown); and its external surface may, if desired, be finished to aflord lateral bearing for the hub and thus assist in taking the end thrust on the axle 11 from the drive wheel (not shown). The other (inner) end of the spreader 6 is open. The spreader 6 may be supported and secured in place in any suitable manner, as by means of headed pins 13 extending 1924. Serial No. 724,729.

through apertured lugs 14 at the lower ends of the box sides 5 and through corresponding lugs 15 on the spreader bottom 8. As shown, there are pairs of these lugs 14 and 15 both at the outer or hub end of the box and at the inner end, at either side. ably, the pins 13 fit snugly but not tightly in the lugs 1 and 15. These pins 13 may be secured in place by cotter pins 16 through their ends. Th inner end of the spreader 6 being open, the lubricator 7 may upon occasion be inserted and removed therethrough. Accidental displacement or withdrawal, however, is prevented by a keeper bar or retaining pin 17 extending across the open end of the spreader 6 through apertured lugs 18, 18. As here shown, these lugs 18, 18 are on the spreader sides 9, 9 rather than on the box sides 5, 5, projecting beyond the latter from the inner ends of the spreader sides.

As here shown, the lubricator 7 is a sheet metal cellar of the general Elvin type, with a grease cake G therein. In effect, it is a box with side and end walls 20 and 21 (the former straight, and the latter curved in conformity to the axle 11, like the spreader end wall 10), but without bottom or top. It need not necessarily even have end walls at both ends; on the contrary, its hub end may be open, as shown. Within the cellar 7, the cake G is supported and urged upward by a subjacent sheet metal follower plate 22, which is itself urged upward by a spiral compression spring 28 acting between the follower and the spreader bottom 8. As shown, the spring 23 is partly accommodated in a shallow recess 24 in the spreader bottom 8, this recess preferably having the character of a groove extending to the inner end of the spreader, to facilitate insertion and removal of the spring. A lubricating plate 25 (of perforated sheet metal, or otherwise foraminous) may be interposed between the grease cake G and the axle 11. As shown, this plate 25 is curved in conformity to the axle 11, and its side edges are bent outward to engage beneath inturned flanges 26 on the cellar side walls 20; while its other edges have downturned flanges or lugs 27 to fit over the corresponding edges or corners of the grease cake G.

The inner end of the follower 22 carries an indicator rod 28 which, extends below the Preferspreader bottom 8, as shown, relatively nar row ways 30 for the lower edges of the cellar sides are afforded, and thus friction in insertion and removal of the cellar is minimized. To facilitate insertion still more, the inner ends of these ways may he reduced or tapered off as indicated at 31. Thebottom of the spring recess 24 may be similarly reduced or tapered off in the middle, as indicated at 32, to facilitate insertion of the spring 23.

Inasmuch as the follower an be pushed down into contact with the spreader bottom 8 itself, the grease cake G can be made of maximum thickness in reference to the dimensions of the driving box. i fhen the cellar 7 is open at its hub end, as shown, it can be entirely withdrawn (to permit inspection of the-other lubricator parts or of the grease cake G) without disturbing either such parts or the cake. On the other hand, by pulling down on the indicator rod 28, so as to reduce the friction'bet-ween the lubricating plate 25 and the axle 11, the follower 22, grease cake G and plate 25 may all be withdrawn along flange at its hub end, of a lubricator for the box comprising a bottomless lubricant contamer open at its hub end, so that 1t can be withdrawn without withdrawing the lubricant.

0. Journal lubricating means compiising in combination, a lubricator cellar, spring actuated follower means for urging the lubricant against the journal and a bottomless open ended lubricant container adapted to be withdrawn from the cellar without disturbing the lubricant or follower means.

Journal lubricating means comprising in combination a lubricator cellar, a grease cake formed to fit the journal, a foraminous platepositioned between the journal and the cake, spring actuated follower means for urging the cake against the journal and a bottomless open ended lubricant container adapted to be withdrawn from the cellar without disturbing the lubricant or the follower means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. I

HARRY s. VINCENT. 

